Dispenser for discharging a fluid medium

ABSTRACT

A dispenser is disclosed which is made up of two telescoping sections. One section holds at least one volume of a substance to be discharged. Telescoping motion of the sections compresses the substance to be discharged to force it through a passage in the section not holding the substance volume to be discharged therefrom. Motion between the section is limited to ensure precise metering of a charge to be dispersed.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/320,794 filed Oct. 7,1994, and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,989, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 07/958,367, filed as PCT/EP91/0118, Jun. 25, 1991,now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a discharge apparatus for flowable media, whichcan be in the pulverulent, gaseous and/or pasty, but in particular inthe liquid state, and which are mainly used for cosmetic orpharmaceutical purposes.

The application of such media in individual, successive, material orvolume-identical or different charges or batches can be appropriate. Forthis purpose it is admittedly advantageous to equip the dischargeapparatuses with meters or counters for the discharged batch quantities,but this leads to a relatively complicated and space-consumingconstruction. It is also possible with conventional pump dosing devicesto successively discharge batches of the same or of different sizes, ifan adjustable dosing mechanism is provided. However, in this case thenumber of the already discharged batches or charges cannot beestablished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention it is desired to avoid the problems anddisadvantages of known constructions, and in particular provide adischarge apparatus with which it is possible to successively dischargein simple manner discharge batches, optionally in preciselypredetermined order. Appropriately, the discharge apparatus isconstructed for discharge by a manual stroke or operating movement.

In addition, the discharge apparatus can appropriately be switched fromthe starting position for one operating stroke to the starting positionfor the next operating stroke independently of the size of the dischargevolume through the particular operating stroke. In the case of anon-curved, but instead substantially linear operating stroke, the pumpcan be transferred stepwise in its stroke direction between theindividual starting positions, e.g., in such a way that the stroke endposition of one operating stroke is the starting position for the nextoperating stroke. Instead of this or in addition thereto, the switchingover can also take place transversely to the stroke direction, so thatsuccessive discharges take place from different pump chambers.

The construction according to the invention is particularly suitable forthe discharge of a plurality, e.g., seven, fourteen or more dischargebatches, such as is necessary if, e.g., one active substance is to beused once a day for one, two or more weeks.

Despite this relatively large number of switching steps, the dischargeapparatus can be given a very compact construction. In the case of theobject of the invention at the end of each preceding discharge cyclethere can be an automatically engaging and operating locking of thefollowing discharge cycle by the sequence control. The latter must bemanually actuated in order to release said following discharge cycle andonly then is the locking means overcome and can the following dischargecycle take place. This makes it possible to fix a specific sequence ofdischarge batches or charges, because namely the sequence control sofixes the succession of two or more batches, that between the latterthere is a blocking of the discharge possibility, which can only beovercome again by a separate release actuation.

Appropriately, the discharge apparatus has as the discharge unit atleast one thrust piston pump or one or more, substantially dimensionallystable pump cylinders or medium reservoirs and indestructible storagecapsules for the medium, so that the pump cylinder can e.g., be madefrom glass and very high hygienic requirements are satisfied. This isfurther improved if the filled discharge apparatus contains the mediumonly in at least one container such that it simultaneously forms thepump cylinder for guiding a pump piston and facing same in a spacedmanner in the starting position, is tightly sealed at the bottom, namelydoes not have an intake or suction opening.

In order that the discharge apparatus can always only be indexed in thecorrect direction, a locking mechanism or ratchet locking against theopposite direction is provided and can be constructed in the manner of afreewheel.

In the case of the described or some other construction of the dischargeapparatus, it is advantageous if at least part of the plunger of apiston unit is substantially separated in one starting position from thepiston unit and can only be coupled by a pivoting and/or stroke movementwith the pump piston. If the pump piston is already located within thepump cylinder, it can form a tight closure for the medium stored in thepump chamber. On coupling the plunger the closure is automaticallyopened, e.g., by destruction and simultaneously produces a lineconnection between the pump chamber and an outlet channel or an outletopening. As the medium can be stored in completely sealed manner in thepump chamber with such a construction, very long storage times can beobtained. In addition, the coupling process can be such that it forms asafety mechanism against unauthorized use, e.g., by children.

The discharge apparatus can be a very simple construction. For exampleit has two substantially one-piece, telescopically interengaging caps,whose remote, exposed end walls directly form pressure handles forstroke operation, whereas its exposed outer circumferences form grippinghandles for turning operation used for indexing purposes. Appropriately,a discharge connecting piece carrying the plunger projects over one ofthese end walls, while the other end wall forms the associated endlimitation of the discharge apparatus. At least one receptacle for theplug-in fastening of a storage or cylinder container is provided in theinterior of the associated cap completely concealed with respect to theoutside.

It is particularly advantageous if a plurality of storage or cylindercontainers are arranged in a row or a circular ring in such a way thatwith the said sequence control one container after the other can beemptied, particularly through the same discharge opening.

Thus, substantially for each discharge a new, sealed container is brokenopen, which only has to have a storage volume of, e.g., approximately0.1 ml. Such a discharge apparatus can be very small dimensions of e.g.approximately a diameter of 5 cm and, without discharge connectingpiece, has a smaller axial extension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further features of preferred developments of the inventioncan be gathered from the claims, the description and the drawings andthe individual features, both singly and in the form of subcombinations,can be realized in an embodiment of the invention and in other fieldsand can represent advantageous, independently protectable constructionsfor which protection is hereby claimed. Embodiments of the invention aredescribed in greater detail hereinafter relative to the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a discharge apparatus according to theinvention shown roughly in actual size.

FIG. 2 is an axial section view of the discharge apparatus shown on alarger scale.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the arrangement according to FIG.2.

FIG. 4 shows another construction in axial section.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of FIG. 5 on a larger scale.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the inner circumference of the capaccording to FIG. 4 in developed detail.

DETAILED DISCUSSION

The discharge apparatus 1 is bounded on its outside substantially by twocasing bodies 2 and 3, which interengage in the manner of a flat boxwith lid and internally receive a pump arrangement 4 with a plurality ofpumps 6 so as to be completely concealed from the outside.

With each pump 6 is associated a cylinder 7 of a cylinder arrangement 5,which forms with a pump piston 9 of a piston unit 8 a standardsubassembly. With a sequence control 10 each pump can be transferredfrom an inoperative position into an operative position, in which it isroughly equiaxially oriented with a plunger 11 for operating purposesand its pump chamber 12 formed by a container 13 can be directly emptiedinto the open by means of an outlet channel 15 through an outlet opening14.

To this end, each pump 6 has in an equiaxial passage opening 16 of itssleeve-like pump piston 9, a closure 17, e.g., in the form of a verythin diaphragm, whose edge is tightly fixed to the inner face of thepassage opening 16. In the starting position the pump piston 9 islocated entirely within the container 13 adjacent to its end open to thefull inside diameter of the cylinder 7 and forms with the closure 17 aplug tightly sealing the pump chamber 12 to the outside. The pump piston9, e.g., has three axially succeeding sealing lips constructed in onepiece with the piston sleeve and which are used exclusively for theretaining thereof and the guidance thereof on the cylinder track.

The base and jacket of each container 13 are constructed in one pieceand the closure 17 is located at the end of the pump piston 9 or thepassage opening 16 facing the base. All the pumps 5 are arranged inapproximately axially parallel manner to one another, to the plunger 11and to the particular casing body 2 or 3 in such a way that their endsare in each case roughly in a common plane.

The substantially cylindrical base or casing body 2 having a smallerexternal diameter has two approximately coaxially interengaging jackets18 and 19, which are connected in one piece with one another by means ofroughly radial webs 22 and form between in each case two webs a mountingsupport 23 for a pump 5 or a container 13. The axes 20 of the mountingsupports 23 are positioned in a ring about the common axis 21 of thecasing, from which the central axis of the plunger 11 has the samespacing. On the bottom of each mounting support 23, which forms an axialplug-in opening closely adapted to the container 13, is provided asupport 24, e.g., at least one rib, on which is supported the associatedcontainer 13 with its base spaced from the bottom of the plug-inopening.

The open face of the container 13 is overlapped by a toroidal notch 25of the retaining jacket, which gives a clearance-free snap fastening ofthe container 13, which extends approximately up to the open, inner faceof the casing body 2. At the outer face the casing body 2 is closed byan approximately planar end wall 26. In the starting position the casingbody 2 projects out of the casing body 3 over most of its length. Thecasing body 3 has two coaxially interengaging jackets 27 and 28, betweenwhich is defined an annular space 29 for the rotary and axiallydisplaceable engagement of the circular retaining projection of thecasing body 2.

The guide 30 is essentially only formed by the inner jackets 18 and 27,a bead 31 on the inner end of the jacket 18 slides on the innercircumference of the jacket 27 and a bead 32 on the inner end of thejacket 27 slides on the inner circumference of the jacket 18. The beads31 and 32 simultaneously form snap members for a simple assemblyconnection of the casing bodies 2 and 3 and the sole axial securingmeans for fixing the starting position, in which they engage with oneanother by ring shoulders. The jackets 27 and 28 are also constructed inone piece with a substantially planar end wall 33, which with the endwall 26 forms the end boundaries of the casing and over which onlyprojects a connecting piece 34 receiving the plunger 11 in flush mannerand having the outlet opening 14 in its end face.

An outer connecting piece jacket is connected in one piece to the endwall 33 and at its free end passes into an inner plunger jacket 35,which traverses in contact-free manner the end wall 33 and projects intothe annular space 29. Within the plunger jacket 35 is provided ashaft-like plunger core 36, which with a width-reduced projection 37projects over the inner end of the plunger jacket 35 and with its otherend can form a component of a swirling device for the outlet opening 14.The outlet channel 15 traverses the projection 37 in its end face, whichis bevelled for forming a tip 38.

In the transition area to the projection 37, the plunger core 36 withthe plunger jacket 35 forms a circular shoulder 39, which can engage insealed manner on the associated, planar face of the particular pumppiston 9. The projection 37 is closely adapted to the passage opening 16and, like the latter, can be cylindrical or conical. In the startingposition, the end of the projection 37 is at a limited distance from theinner face of the case body 2.

The two casing bodies 2 and 3 are only turnable relative to one anotherin one direction by a ratchet 40 formed by the sequence control 10. Withthe outer faces of their end walls 26 and 33 they in each case form apressure handle 41 and 42 and with the outer circumference thereof forma turning handle 43 or 44. In the pump stroke end position the casingbody 2 and therefore its handle 43 are substantially completely withinthe casing body 3. Over the outer circumference of the jacket 19 aredistributed in tongue-like manner locking members 45 projecting freelyand in inclined manner against the rotation direction of the casing body2 and with which is associated on the inner circumference of the jacket28 a tooth system 46 passing over its entire length and having a spacingcorresponding to the spacing of the mounting supports 23. The toothsystem 46 is formed by inwardly projecting teeth or locking members 47,which are bounded on in each case, one flank by a shallowly risingsliding face, and on the other flank by a locking shoulder 48 positionedapproximately radially to the axis 21.

The locking members 45 constructed in one piece with the jacket 19 areonly provided on a short portion of the casing body 2 connected in theinner end, so that in the starting position they are entirely locatedwithin the casing body 3.

In a locking position of the sequence control 10 or the ratchet 40 theprojection 37 is equiaxial to a pump 6. If the casing bodies 2 and 3 arenow compressed counter to the tension of a return spring 50, then theprojection 37 enters the pump piston 9, perforates the closure 17 andcarries with it via the shoulder 39 the pump piston 9 up to engagementon the bottom of the container 13, because the projection 37 does notproject significantly over the inner end of the pump piston 9. Duringthis pump stroke movement the content of the pump chamber 12 iscompletely discharged through the outlet channel 15 and the dischargenozzle.

As a result of the described construction, the plunger 11 is slightlyresiliently deflectable, so that on coupling it is automaticallyoriented with respect to the pump piston 9. If the handles 41 and 42 arethen released again, then the projection 37 is again drawn out of thecontainer 13. Through the sawtooth-shaped construction of the pistonlips the friction with respect to the container 13 is so high, that atthe start of the return stroke the plunger 11 starts to be releasedagain from the pump piston 9 and the latter remains in its end position.

In the starting position the two casing bodies 2 and 3 can be turnedagainst one another by a switching step of the sequence control 10 andthen the plunger 11 is aligned with another pump 6. During the strokemovements the rotation barrier is maintained, because the lockingmembers 45 slide on the locking shoulders 48.

As a result of the magazine-like construction of the casing body 2, itis also possible to receive pump units with different active substancesor active substance concentrations and also, following the separation ofthe casing bodies 2 and 3, the magazine can be reequipped with freshlyfilled pump units.

The return spring 50 is laterally adjacent and axially parallel to thepumps 6 in the axis 21. It is centered in the jacket 27 and is supportedon the insides of the end walls 26 and 33. As a result the return spring50 located outside the pump axes can project over one or both ends ofthe pumps 6. The discharge apparatus 1 can be very easily manufactured,fitted and handled and has a very compact construction. In therepresented embodiment the outlet channel 15 is valve-free or openthroughout, but can also be provided with an, e.g., pressure-dependentoperating discharge valve.

The discharge apparatus according to FIGS. 1 to 3 can also be combinedwith the features of the discharge apparatus according to FIGS. 4 to 7,e.g., in such a way that the pump piston 9 can be operated instop-limited manner over two or more successive portions of its overallstroke, so that by operating a further sequence control the next partialstroke can be performed. In FIGS. 4 to 7 corresponding parts are giventhe same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 3, but followed by with theletter a, the descriptions applying to both embodiments.

In the discharge apparatus la only one pump 6a with a pump piston 8a andpump cylinder 7a is provided and located in the axis 20a. The container13a has a much greater length than diameter, so that the pump chamber12a can be emptied by stepwise, but return-free introduction of the pumppiston 9a. For this purpose the sequence control 10a has on the innercircumference of the jacket 28a a plurality of uniformlycircumferentially distributed grooves 49 in two equal groups extendingin each case over half the circumference. In each case two equally long,diametrically facing grooves 49 engage two locking members 45a orlongitudinal webs, which are provided on the outer circumference of thejacket 19a. Adjacent grooves 49 increase stepwise in lengthapproximately up to the end wall 33a and pass from the open face of thecasing body 3a.

Between adjacent grooves 49 is in each case provided an, e.g.,toroidally projecting locking member 47a, which extends substantiallyover the entire length of the shorter groove and whose longitudinal edgefacing the axis 20a is convexly curved or can be constructed in themanner of a rising tooth side, so that it in each case bounds the longergroove 49 laterally with a locking shoulder 48a or the associated sideof said groove 49 is formed by the locking shoulder. The end portion ofsaid groove side projecting over the adjacent shorter groove also formsa locking shoulder 48a. The end face of each groove 49 forms a stop 51for the end of the associated locking member 45a, which can be locatedin the plane of the open face of the casing body 2a.

If the two casing bodies 2a and 3a are operated by compression, then theends of the locking members 45a strike against the stops 51 of theassociated grooves 49. The two casing bodies 2a and 3a can then only berotated against one another in one direction, namely so that the lockingmembers 45a, after resiliently jumping over the locking members 47a,pass into the vicinity of the next longer grooves 49. This can befollowed by a further operation over a corresponding partial stroke,which results from the length difference between the two adjacentgrooves 49.

In this embodiment the pump piston 9a is constructed in one piece withthe plunger core 36 and projects over the open face of the casing body3a. The container 13a extends approximately from the end wall 26a to theopen face of the casing body 2a. From the end wall 26a the jacket 18aprojects freely into the casing body 2a and closely surrounds thecontainer 13a as a mounting support 23a on the outer circumference. Thecasing body 2a is longer than the casing body 3a, so that the handle43a, even in the end position, still projects in accessible manner overthe body 3a.

We claim:
 1. A unit-dose dispenser for manual discharge of a single doseof a flowable substance in the form of a spray, comprising a casingwhich has a nozzle and at least one shoulder on a side of this nozzle,the nozzle having a piston member extending inwardly from an outletopening, the piston member having at least one discharge channel, acontainer of the substance to be discharged being operatively positionedwith respect to the piston member, and a seal being arranged across thecontainer to seal in all the substance to be discharged, the pistonmember having a piercing member which extends towards the seal, wherebyon pressing the container onto the piston member the seal is pierced toallow the contents of the container to be expelled along the dischargechannel and out through the outlet opening in the form of the spray. 2.A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the seal is formed by astopper which is moveably engaged inside the container and has a centralmembrane which, in use, is pierced by the piercing member.
 3. Adispenser according to claim 2, wherein the piercing member is at leastpartly hollow, thereby forming the discharge channel of the piston.
 4. Adispenser according to claim 3, wherein the piercing member extendsalong the axis of the piston member to the outlet opening.
 5. Adispenser according to claim 1 further comprising shoulders on eitherside of the nozzle.
 6. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein thecontainer is contained in a casing body which engages on the inside ofthe casing, the casing body having a bead cooperating with a bead on theinside of the casing to form a snap connection.
 7. A dispenser accordingto claim 1, wherein the container contains a pharmaceutical substance.8. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container is containedin a casing body which is positioned inside the casing.
 9. A dispenseraccording to claim 1, wherein the container is contained in a casingbody and the casing body is positioned inside the casing and the casingand the casing body are provided with a locking member each, the casingand the casing body being moveable relative to each other after thelocking member on the casing has been moved past the locking member ofthe casing body.
 10. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein thecontainer is contained in a casing body providing a pressure handle atits bottom.
 11. A dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the casingbody comprises at least one rib on which the container is supported inspaced relationship to the bottom.
 12. A dispenser according to claim 1,wherein the piercing member is inserted into an inner plunger jacket ofthe casing.
 13. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the plungerjacket has a shoulder which is designed to sealingly engage the seal ofthe container.
 14. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the sealhas, adjacent to its central membrane, an equiaxial recess, proximatethe piercing member.